Iron Man 3

The movie has begun set construction in Wilmington, North Carolina, and it is thought to still be on track to begin production in either April or May. Also, its production codename is reportedly Caged Heat. That's probably meaningless — but I can't imagine there's any way to stop the resulting Luke Cage speculation, so have at it. [Comic Book Movie]

John Carter

The first batch of reviews are out for director Andrew Stanton's live-action debut, which opens later this week. They are generally positive, with this passage from Hitfix giving perhaps the most positive spin on what to expect:

Much of [Stanton's] movie is imbued with a wild, thrilling pulp energy and a genuine sense of wonder. It is a charming science-fiction adventure that makes no apologies for what it is. This is the sort of film where there is talk of Jeddaks and Tharks and Barsoom and you're supposed to just pick it up and understand, and where we accept that Mars doesn't look a thing like modern science tells us it does, because that's the conceit. It will be interesting to see who gets hung up on the difference between reality and this film's conception of Mars, because there's nothing about this that plays as "real," but there is such a strong sense of voice that I think Stanton sells the reality beautifully.

The reviews generally praise the look of the film, with the big aerial battle sequences getting special mention. The special effects, in particular the look of John Carter's giant leaps, get a more mixed response. The backstory for the movie is thought to be a bit much and more convoluted than it needs to be, and it's mentioned that the movie doesn't spoonfeed the audience all the details, which I suppose could be considered either a good thing or a bad thing. The performances have generally received a position reception, although there's some talk that star Taylor Kitsch isn't as great with the troubled Civil War veteran side of John Carter as he is with the action hero aspects. You can check out complete reviews here, here, here, and here, as well as another general roundup here.

I'm really angry at the trailers. I'm a director, I guess, so I always get pissed at them! The movie looks fantastic, and the trailers look so hammily off. The posters are okay, they're still neutral, but we're trying to get the film out there so people don't judge it by the trailer.

Carpe Demon

Trollhunter director Andre Øvredal has reportedly signed on to direct the film adaptation of Julie Kenner's novel about a suburban housewife with a secret past as a demon hunter that may not be secret for much longer. [Moviehole]

The Walking Dead

Here are two sneak peeks for the next episode, "Better Angels."

There's a lengthy - and, as always, quite possibly bullshit - synopsis for this Sunday's episode. According to this particular summary, the pre-credits sequence intercuts Dale's funeral with a bunch of characters killing some zombies in a field. Then here's the first half of the episode:

Hershel finally allows everybody to move into the house. Rick decides to let Randall loose instead of killing him, just like they had originally planned. Shane gets all mad at the idea, but Rick says it's his decision and Shane needs to shut up. Later, Carl reveals to Shane that he done fucked up and stole Daryl's gun as well as released that walker from the swamp, but asks him not to tell anyone. While Shane is building a lookout platform, Lori comes to talk to him. She thanks him for everything he had done (saving them from Atlanta, etc.) and says she's truly sorry for all the crap that happened between them.

Shane asks Rick that he and Daryl be allowed to go dump Randall, but Rick refuses. Shane then tells Rick about what Carl did and gives him Daryl's gun. Rick has a talk with his son and basically tells him to grow up. Meanwhile, Shane sneaks into the shed and releases Randall. They secretly leave the farm and take off into the woods together. Shane tells the kid that he wants to join their group and asks Randall where it is. He tells Shane that they have a camp on a highway five miles away. Shane then proceeds to snap his neck.

The rest is at the link, which finishes off with a sequence pretty much identical to what we posted yesterday. [SpoilerTV]

It's really just about how it affects the other characters. That's the main thing that goes into a decision to kill a character: "What does this get us?" Having an amazing ending to the episode and really showing the viewer that this is a dangerous world and anyone can go at any minute and getting the shock value of that is great. But, at the end of the day, it's "How does this affect things six episodes down the road? How does this affect things ten episodes down the road?" That's really the question. Once we started working that out in the writing room and seeing how Dale's death affects Shane and Dale's death affects Rick and Daryl and Lori and Andrea and all the way down the list - that's really what helped us along in this decision.

He also talks some more about what's ahead for Carl:

Well, yes, we're going into dark places. Carl is one of the most fun characters to tell stories about in this world. It's true of the comic and it's true of the show. Over time, we're going to start to see more and more of this kid. What's awesome about that is, think about what it would be like to grow up in this world. It's one thing to have everything you know taken away from you and have to deal with this shitty world you now have to live in. But to have barely even really recognized what the world is and how it works and what to expect, and then to be thrust into this apocalyptic threat and to grow up and mature with these kinds of situations... It's going to make him grow up weird, is what I like to say.

Awake

Here are some promo photos for this Thursday's episode, "The Little Guy." [KSiteTV]

Star Jason Isaacs offers some cryptic thoughts about how the two universes inform each other and help his character solve cases:

If something happens in one world that leads him to something in the other world, it's because he might have noticed that thing in his first world without realizing it. And sometimes we do something even more controversial that hopefully will make people wonder if there is magic going on."

The River

Here's a sneak peek at tonight's episode, "Dr. Emmet Cole."

Here's the description of the eighth episode and season finale,"Row, Row, Row Your Boat", which is set to air March 20:

MEMBERS OF THE MAGUS CREW HAVE BEEN ABLE TO NARROWLY ESCAPE DEATH — UNTIL NOW, AS ONE OF THEIR OWN IS SHOT DEAD, WHICH LEADS JAHEL TO TAKE MATTERS INTO HER OWN HANDS, ON THE RIVETING SEASON FINALE OF ABC'S "THE RIVER" — With a course now plotted for their final destination, the Magus crew suddenly finds itself in complete chaos when a member of their own is shot dead, leading Jahel to call upon the spirit of the Boíuna to help, against the wishes of her Father. The crew's quest is threatened further by the unknown killer, as the situation continues to spiral out of control.

Alcatraz

Here are some promo photos for the eleventh episode, "Webb Porter", which airs March 19. [SpoilerTV]

Once Upon a Time

Here's a promo and some photos from this Sunday's episode, "Red Handed." [KSiteTV]

Here's the official description for episode seventeen, "Hat Trick", which airs March 25 and guest stars Captain America's Sebastian Stan as the Mad Hatter and the Who's Roger Daltrey as a talking caterpillar, which remains pretty much my favorite thing ever:

EMMA IS KIDNAPPED BY A MAN WHO'S SANITY TEETERS ON THE EDGE OF MADNESS, AND THE EVIL QUEEN PERSUADES A MAN OF MAGIC TO STEAL SOMETHING FROM THE QUEEN OF HEARTS, ON ABC'S "ONCE UPON A TIME" – While searching for a missing Mary Margaret, Emma is kidnapped by a man whose affinity for hats has him teetering on the edge of madness. Meanwhile, viewers will be transported outside of the fairytale land that was for the first time when the Evil Queen persuades a skillful man of magic to come work for her one last time and travel to Wonderland in order to help steal something from the Queen of Hearts.

An upcoming episode will see the return of Jiminy Cricket's Storybrooke alter ego, with both James and Mr. Gold sitting in for therapy sessions with him. [E! Online]

Revolution

Billy Burke, best known for being one of the more inoffensive parts of the Twilight movies as Bella's father, has reportedly been cast in J.J. Abrams and Supernatural creator Eric Kripke's pilot for NBC, in which a group of people have to survive in a world where all energy has mysteriously disappeared. Burke will reportedly play a "charismatic marine." [Deadline]

Being Human (UK)

Here's a promo for this Sunday's episode six, "Puppy Love."

Here's the description for episode seven, "Making History", which airs March 18:

Tensions run high when Cutler takes Tom under his wing. He's got big plans for Tom - together they're going to be history makers. Hal's wicked past catches up with him and he finds himself led down a path of temptation. Having succumbed to drinking blood, Hal's second date with Alex doesn't exactly go to plan. Meanwhile, Annie is called to Purgatory by the mysterious woman from the future. She's got big news for Annie - there's only one way to save the earth from imminent destruction by the vampires. But will Annie even contemplate the task that she's given?

The Secret Circle

Here's the synopsis for the sixteenth episode, "Lucky", which airs March 15.

CASSIE CONFRONTS HER FATHER, DIANA FINDS NEW LOVE AND FAYE TURNS UP THE HEAT WITH LEE - Cassie (Britt Robertson) catches Blackwell (guest star Joe Lando) sneaking around the abandoned house. After confiding in Adam (Thomas Dekker), he tells her he knows Blackwell was looking for a device to drain witches' powers and clearly back to his old ways. Faye (Phoebe Tonkin) shows up at Lee's (guest star Grey Damon) house to invite him to the school fundraiser, but is taken aback when Eva (guest star Alexia Fast) greets her at the door claiming to be Lee's girlfriend. Meanwhile, Melissa (Jessica Parker Kennedy) encourages Diana (Shelley Hennig) to date a normal guy and points her in the direction of a new, handsome guy in town (guest star Tim Phillipps). Dawn (Natasha Henstridge) runs into Blackwell at the school but the reunion isn't quite what she expected.

And here's the same for episode seventeen, which airs the week after on March 22:

CASSIE VISITS HER GRANDMOTHER AND LEARNS SOME STARTLING NEWS, FAYE GETS A STALKER AND CHARLES MAKES HIS MOVE - Blackwell (guest star Joe Lando) warns Cassie (Britt Robertson) and Adam (Thomas Dekker) that their love may be destiny, but it's also a curse. He suggests they go visit her grandmother, Jane (guest star Ashley Crow) to find out if there is a spell to reverse it. Jane warns Cassie that someone in the Circle will die if the curse is awakened. Meanwhile, Eva (guest star Alexis Fast) starts stalking Faye (Phoebe Tonkin) and Charles (Gale Harold) makes his next move against Blackwell.